CNN/YouTube Republican Debate 11-28-2007

I'm not sure what was more interesting. The Debate, or all of the information that has been coming out after the debate regarding planted questions and known supporters of Democrat Candidates asking questions to Republican Candidates.

First I'll give my take on the Candidates performances. There where few moments that I thought were surprising. There where some entertaining moments across the board though, from both questions and answers.

Giuliani - I didn't think he did bad, but I did not he think he did all that great either. He stuck to his usual talking points regarding how he beat crime down in NYC. He talked tough on foreign policy, but stumbled a bit on his immigration credibility.

His bit accusing Romney about the illegal aliens working for his landscaping company was a bit shoddy. And this is the part where politicians in general really annoy me because they think that the voters are really that stupid. Who here really thinks that Mitt Romney is supposed to go ask the landscaping company mowing his lawn to produce green-cards for all of the people showing up at his house. And Romney was right, it is Un-American to ask that of them just because they have a "funny accent". So I think it was appropriate that Rudy got booed when he continued to push that line.

Overall I don't think Giuliani came out looking any better or worse for the wear. I do think that he probably took a small hit because he really has not come out with anything new. Moving forward, should he win the nomination, I see him having a very difficult time beating Hillary (should she win). Especially after the news of his expense records coming to light. The issue, I think, is not so much about the money, but more importantly it brings to center stage the issue that he was having and affair on his wife. Sure he ended up marrying the woman, but he is going to have a hard time taking the moral high ground, even against Clinton.

Grade: B-

McCain - I like McCain. I think he is a solid leader, a moral person, and he sticks to his beliefs. I do think that he has lost his way a little though, and is a bit out of touch with the American People. His performance last night was okay. If he really wants to win this though he needs to show a little more excitement.

He did get a couple of digs in on Romney, but I think Romney made a pretty good case when McCain attacked him on water-boarding. I think Romney's response was perfectly reasonable. A Presidential Candidate should not make it known what is, and what is not going to be taken off of the table. Furthermore, I really don't think that your everyday Conservative Republican really cares a great deal how a terrorist is being treated. On the contrary I think that most Republicans think they are being treated too well.

Grade: C+

Thompson - Eh. I'm not really sure why Fred is here. He entered late, which could be a good strategy considering everyone else entered way to early and is spending tens of millions of dollars to engage in ten second sound bite wars with the other 8 candidates. But if you are going to come in late you had better come out swinging, and he has not done that.

His performance was okay, but he didn't do anything in my opinion that was going to sway any new voters in his direction.

Grade: C

Tancredo - Tom was Tom. I think this is one guy that should really just throw in the towel. The field is already to large and it is about time that some of these guys bowed out and starting throwing their support behind the party. Nothing is to be gained by the Republicans if some of the lower candidates keep sticking it out and keep taking jabs at each other, tearing each other down.

Tancredo said nothing that the other candidates did not say, and spent most of his time echoing them just so he could get in on the conversation. Besides the fact that he has a certain demeanor to him that makes me liken him to Mr. Burns from the Simpsons. (Now now Simtherss).

Grade: D

Ron Paul - I have to admit I have always been taken with Dr. Paul. Personally I think out of all of the Candidates he really represents the basic Republican Principles that the party has stood for. Traditional Conservatism versus Neoconservatism are two very different things.

Pause....

A Brief History of Neoconservatives

For a while the two thought processes coexisted pretty well. From the 1950's on, traditional conservatism controlled the base of the Republican Party, but recognized that the Neoconservatives seemed to make for pretty popular presidents. However as time as moved on, and the world has changed the Neoconservative Movement has become more dominant and so to has the reminder of where they come from. The Democratic Party.

The key areas that the two sides disagree on is in size of government, fiscal responsibility and foreign policy. Traditional Conservatives like small government, small spending, low taxes, and only interfere in foreign affairs when it is a direct threat to the United States of America.

Neoconservatives on the other hand do like to lower taxes, however they do not like to decrease spending, or really make balancing the budget a priority. Their foreign policy is that of preemption and/or assisting any and all democratic countries in need. Some Presidents have taken a more extreme approach that then others. Neoconservitives are typically proponents of bigger government.

So how do they co-exists? The answer is really quite simple. Religion. The republican party has long been known for it's religious values and using religion to support some of it's governing practices and social policies. So despite ideological differences both Traditional Conservatives and Neoconservatives have always been able to unite on the war against religion waged by the democrats.

Back to Ron Paul. I don't quite agree with his foreign policy, but I do agree with his views that a large part of our current Middle Eastern problems are a result of blow-back on failed past foreign policy. Let's remember we are living in revisionists history. The WMD's that we went after in Iraq were there. At least they should have been. Why? Because we gave them the means and promoted their ability to obtain and develop Chemical Weapons during the 1980's during the Iran/Iraq war. The United states did this knowing full well that "So-dam Insane" would most likely continue to develop these weapons into the future.

We have been meddling in the mid-east for some time. So it should not surprise us that things are pretty messed up over there. Though I do not take the stance that if we weren't there they would not be here. That region of the world has been plagued by conflict for centuries. There is a reason why it takes brutal dictators to have a shot at building a country that is even remotely prosperous. If they didn't the entire region would be in a constant state of chaos, as we now know. And the radical jihadists have had it out for Western and European culture since the time of the crusades and probably before.

And besides we really do need the oil and need to gaurantee that we can still get it. At least until they make a hybrid/hydrogen/lithium battery powered car that you and I can afford...and fit our kids into the back seat....comfortably.

End History Lesson

So see, Ron Paul is great for a history lesson and a good reminder of where we came from. But I think he may be just a little to old fashioned to make a good president. Maybe if we weren't at war I would give him a try. But not today...not today.

I do think it is a shame how he is treated by his peers and by some of the moderators in past debates. This is a man who has suck to his guns and has not wavered on a single stance he has taken no matter how strong the criticism. That is the sign of a true believer, and the other candidates should take lessons.

It would also be nice if he could get a question, just once, other than; "What government agency would you like to get rid of". We already know....all of them.

Grade: B-

Hunter: See my take on Tancredo and clone it.

Grade: D

Huckabee - Good Golly Miss Molly! Are we really ready for a President Huckabee! I can't answer that, but I can tell you that I think he had the best performance of the evening by far. He said some great things and had some great ideas. I am not very familiar with all of the details of his fair tax plan so I will have to do some research on that before I can have a real opinion. But off the cuff I have to say it sounds pretty cool. It seems basic; we are taxed on what we spend and not on what we earn. I believe that is what this country was founded on.

What really struck me about Huckabee more than anything and more than any other candidate was how sincere he really was. In fact he came off as so sincere and honest that he showed the other candidates just how rehearsed and focused grouped they really where.

The pundits are saying now that he is in the running he is going to start taking some hits; the skeletons will come out, and his record will be challenged. Which to some extent it has. But I don't see where Rudy and Romney will really have a leg to stand on. After all they have some very big holes in their records.

So it will be interesting to see how Mike Huckabee does in all of this. I think he is just what this Presidential race needed.

Grade: A-

Romney - If last night was a beauty contest then Romney won hands down. But he really is going to have a lot to overcome with the issues of his flip-flopping. I don't see it affecting him so much in the general election, especially if running against Clinton, but this is one tough hurdle in the Primary.

Anderson Cooper threw another one at us in last nights debate when he quoted him as saying "I look forward to the day that gays and lesbians can serve openly and proudly in the military".

I winced for him. And you could tell he was not ready for that one and was probably wishing that he had never run against Ted-the-drunk-Kennedy, because man that race is killing him now. He sort of handled it okay. How will it affect him? I don't know. Sadly I think the country as a whole is so desensitized towards this sort of thing that it probably will not cost him anything.

Other than that I thought he did pretty well. He stood up to Rudy, but sort of played nice with Huckabee. Maybe he intends to pick him as a running mate if he gets the nod. Which would probably be the best move he could make. A Mormon and and Evangelical working together for the common good. I think I'm on to something.

Grade: B-

I'll tell you what I am really looking forward to though is a real debate. With so many people on the stage it is really difficult to get any substance from the candidates. Hopefully after Iowa and New Hampshire we will see some of them drop out and we can get down to business.

Until then, enjoy the show.